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TopBackground
Our world consists of diversity of complex adaptive systems enclosed into each other: ecosystems, economic systems, social systems, markets and so on. Any complex adaptive system contains a multitude of sub-systems (“agents”) which interact with each other. We know from our experience that dynamics of real complex adaptive systems can be very complex: the periods of a sustainable development can be interrupted by sudden catastrophic events such as disintegration of systems or sudden decrease of their ability for adaptation (for example, stock exchange crashes and disintegration of states).
Numerous computer simulations of multi-agents systems were explored during the last two decades by scientists specializing in CAS-modelling. Although these computer models were constructed for different real systems almost all of them displayed identical macroscopic properties such as:
- 1.
Punctuated equilibrium and self-organized criticality (Bak & Wiesenfeld, 1987; Henley, 1989; Drossel & Schwabl, 1992; Kauffman & Johnson, 1991; Sole & Manrubia, 1996; Amaral & Mayer, 1999),
- 2.
Discontinuous cycles and catastrophic jumps of macro-indices (Hommes, 2002; Epstein, 2002; Kephart, 2002; Lade et al., 2013),
- 3.
Self-Organized instability and regime “edge of chaos” (Kauffman & Johnson, 1991; Kauffman, 1993; Bak & Sneppen, 1993; Sole et al., 2002; Kephart, 2002).
Universality of these macroscopic properties indicates existence of some universal macroscopic rules of adaptation acting at the level of a holistic system.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Potential of MSP-System: Total stock of adaptive abilities of a system.
Thermodynamic Method for CAS-Modelling: A general principle which explains “emergent properties” of multi-agent systems as the effect of “thermodynamic” laws of the ensemble of interacting agents.
Efficiency of MSP-System: The portion of “realized potential” in the whole potential which is accumulated by a system.
Density of Conditions: The quantity of “conditions” per unit of “potential.”
MSP-System: Complex adaptive system in which MSP-equations describe its’ macroscopic dynamics.
Realized Potential: “Potential” that is exploited in adaptive activity of a system.
MSP-Approach: Thermodynamic method for CAS-modelling based on idea that Lamarck’s laws of evolution determine macroscopic dynamics of multi-agent systems.
Conditions for Realization of Potential: The aggregate factors which contribute to the application of the “potential” in adaptive activity.
Evolutionary Cycle of MSP-System: A four-phase discontinuous cycle that consists of two stages of gradual development and two catastrophic jumps.
MSP-Equations: The equations which formalize Lamarck’s laws of evolution of MSP-Systems.
Evolutionary Curves of MSP-System: The locus of temporary equilibrium states of MSP-System at the plane “density of conditions: efficiency.”